Metropolitan Opera Cancels Simulcast Amid Anti-Semitism Fears
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Metropolitan Opera has canceled plans for a simulcast to cinemas around the world of John Adam's "The Death of Klinghoffer'' amid fears that it could fan anti-Semitism.
As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, the opera depicts the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro and the murder of disabled Jewish passenger Leon Klinghoffer.
The Live in HD broadcast was planned for Nov. 15.
The Met made its decision after discussions with the Anti-Defamation League.
The Met's general manager Peter Gelb said the show is not anti-Semitic and the League's Ken Jacobsen agreed, but added that it's very biased.
"They take the issue of a horrible act of terrorism and there's a rationalization -- a kind of equivalence, more equivalence," he said.
The League praised the Met's decision, saying it feared the opera could create anti-Israeli sentiments in foreign countries.
"Serious concerns remain about this opera and we are aware that this decision will not satisfy all of the Met's critics," Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director, said in a statement. "Yet it does ensure that the opera will have far less of an impact beyond the walls of the opera house at Lincoln Center."
The Met decided the simulcast would be inappropriate at this time, but still plans to stage the opera in the fall, Diamond reported.
Adams blasted the decision, saying the opera "in no form condones or promotes violence, terrorism or anti-Semitism.''
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